It was a scoring spree for Tech, who tallied six goals for the first time since Oct. 4, 2016, when they beat VMI (7-1). The last time the Hokies had a shutout victory with six or more goals was on October 9, 2007 (8-0 vs. VMI), which was also the last time they had six or more unique scorers. .
Ethan Hackenberg scored the goal in the 11th minute when he received the ball in the box from Matthias Johannes and drilled it past the outstretched Winthrop goalie and into the bottom right corner of the goal.
The goal was Hackenberg’s team-high fourth of the season, but his first from open play.
Andy Sullins took a left-footed shot from long range and sent it firmly into the bottom left corner of the goal. Sullins’ first goal of the year was a shot in the 16th minute.
At one point, it looked like Tech would head into the locker room with a two-goal lead, but Malik Tiaw flipped the script in the 43rd minute. The Frenchman, playing for the first time since Sept. 28, swung by Winthrop’s defenders outside the box and calmly darted past the keeper for his third finish of the season.
The Hokies needed just one more point in the first half to match their season high, and Yonis Kyre helped them get there in the 45th minute.
Ian Marcano’s free-kick freed Kiele in the box and he headed the ball into the goal. The goal was Kiele’s second in three games.
Virginia Tech’s goal-scoring scheme was reversed in the second half, but the final line and Wenzel remained impenetrable. Timi Adams made his season debut in the 77th minute, replacing Wenzel. After being ejected, Wenzel earned his sixth shutout win of the season, tied for the most in the ACC.
As time expired, Alex Perez converted a penalty in the 77th minute when Oliver Roche was brought down in the box.
Roche capped off a six-point night for the Hokies in the 88th minute when he hit a ball into the box from CJ Coppola.
Tech, which moves to 5-1-1 at home, plays its final road game of the regular season against Wake Forest on Saturday.
